1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER ABS

1 Instruments and controls
Meters and gauges ................................................. 1-3
Speedometer and odometer .................................. 1-3
Tachometer ............................................................ 1-4
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........................ 1-4
Fuel gauge ............................................................. 1-5
Compass and outside temperature display
(If so equipped) ....................................................... 1-5
Clock ....................................................................... 1-8
Warning/indicator light and buzzer .......................... 1-9
Theft warning (If so equipped) .............................. 1-13
Headlight and turn signal switch .......................... 1-15
Windshield wiper and washer switch .................... 1-16
Rear window wiper and washer switch ............... 1-17
Rear window defogger switch .............................. 1-18
Instrument brightness control ............................... 1-18
Front fog light switch ............................................. 1-19
Hazard warning flasher switch ............................. 1-19
Heated seat (If so equipped) ................................ 1-20Cigarette lighter and ash trays ............................. 1-21
Power socket ......................................................... 1-22
Coin tray ................................................................ 1-22
Cup holder ............................................................. 1-23
Glasses case ......................................................... 1-23
Console box .......................................................... 1-24
Luggage board and box ........................................ 1-25
Tonneau cover ...................................................... 1-26
Power window ....................................................... 1-26
Sunroof ................................................................. 1-28
Interior light ........................................................... 1-29
Spot light ............................................................... 1-30
Inspection light ...................................................... 1-30
Vanity mirror light ................................................. 1-30
Adjustable shock absorber control
(If so equipped) ..................................................... 1-31
Integrated HomeLink
TMtransmitter
(If so equipped) ....................................................... 1-31
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Driver's supplemental air bag (P.2-18)Cruise control
set switch
(P.4-13)
Outside mirror remote control
(P.2-37) Headlight/dimmer/turn signal switch (P.1-15)
Front fog light switch (P.1-19)Meter/gauge (P.1-3)
Windshield wiper/washer switch (P.1-16)
Hazard warning flasher switch (P.1-19)
Center ventilator (P.3-2)
Heater/air conditioner control (P.3-3)Compass/outside air temperature display (P.1-5)
Passenger supplemental air bag (P.2-18)
Side ventilator (P.3-2)
Glove box (P.2-10)
Cigarette lighter (P.1-21)
Radio/CD player (P.3-14)/clock (P.1-8)
Adjustable shock absorber control switch (P.1-31)
Rear window wiper/washer switch (P.1-17)
Rear window/outside mirror defogger switch (P.1-18)Ignition switch/steering lock (P.4-4)Heated seat switch (P.1-20)
Tilting steering wheel adjust lever (P.2-36)Hood release lever (P.2-9) Fuse box cover (P.7-21)
Coin tray (P.1-22) Theft warning light (P.1-13) Cruise control main switch (P.4-13)
Instrument brightness control
(P.1-18)
SIC0585
See the page indicated in parentheses for operating details.
1-2
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

The damping force of the shock absorbers can
be adjusted to the level you desire.
Set the switch to the position you desire ac-
cording to driving conditions.
The sport position is best used for off road
driving. The comfort position is best used for
normal driving.
When the sport position is used, the indicator
on the switch comes on.The Integrated HomeLink
TMTransmitter pro-
vides a convenient way to consolidate the
functions of up to three individual hand-held
transmitters into one built-in device.
THE INTEGRATED HomeLinkTM
TRANSMITTER:
Iwill operate garage doors, gates, home/
office lighting systems and security sys-
tems by storing and transmitting the pro-
gramming information of your current hand-
held transmitters.
Iis built-in and powered by your vehicle's
battery and charging system. No separate
batteries are necessary.
Do not use this Integrated HomeLinkTM
Transmitter with any garage door
opener that lacks safety stop and re-
verse features as required by federal
safety standards (these standards be-
came effective for models manufactured
on April 1, 1982). A garage door opener
which cannot ªdetectº an object in the
path of a closing garage door and then
automatically stop and reverse the door,
does not meet current federal safetystandards. Using a garage door opener
without these features increases the risk
of serious injury or death.
SIC0551
ADJUSTABLE SHOCK
ABSORBER CONTROL (If so
equipped)INTEGRATED HomeLinkTM
TRANSMITTER (If so equipped)
1-31
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

IDo not leave children, unreliable
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
They could accidentally injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent
operation of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
ITo prevent luggage or packages from
sliding forward during braking, do
not stack anything in the cargo area
higher than the seatbacks.
IFailure to follow proper seating in-
structions in this section could result
in serious personal injury in an acci-
dent or during a sudden stop.
EXHAUST GAS (Carbon Monoxide)
Do not breathe exhaust gases; they con-
tain colorless and odorless carbon mon-
oxide. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous
gas, and can cause unconsciousness or
death.
IIf you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all
windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
IDo not run the engine in closed
spaces such as a garage for any
longer than is absolutely necessary.
IDo not park the vehicle with the en-
gine running for any extended length
of time.
IKeep the back door and rear window
closed while driving, otherwise ex-
haust gases could be drawn into the
passenger compartment. If you must
drive in this manner for some reason,
take the following steps.
1. Open all the windows.2. Set the air recirculate switch
ªOFFº and the fan control at
ªhighº to circulate the air.
IIf electrical wiring or other cable con-
nections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the back door or
the body, follow the manufacturer's
recommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.
IThe exhaust system and body should
be inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:
a. The vehicle is raised for service.
b. You suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering into the passenger
compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involv-
ing damage to the exhaust system,
underbody, or rear of the vehicle.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING
AND DRIVING
4-2
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes
at each wheel so the wheels will not lock when
braking abruptly or when braking on slippery
surfaces. The system detects the rotation
speed at each wheel and varies the brake fluid
pressure to prevent each wheel from locking
and sliding. By preventing wheel lockup, the
system helps the driver maintain steering con-
trol and helps to minimize swerving and spin-
ning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.It is
not necessary to pump the brake pedal.
Doing so may result in increased stopping
distances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system will not operate at
speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h) to
completely stop the vehicle. (The speeds will
vary according to road conditions.) When the
anti-lock system senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
(under the hood) rapidly applies and releases
hydraulic pressure (like pumping the brakes
very quickly). While the actuator is working,
you may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from the actuator
under the hood. This is normal and indicates
that the anti-lock system is working properly.However, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is
required while driving.
If a tire slips on rough roads for more than
10 seconds, the ABS brake warning light
may come on. Turn OFF the ignition key,
restart the engine and drive the vehicle at
speeds above 20 MPH (30 km/h). If the
warning light does not go out, have the
vehicle checked at a NISSAN dealer.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer. The com-
puter has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests
the system each time you start the engine and
move the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the ªself-testº occurs, you may
hear a ªclunkº noise and/or feel a ªpulsationº in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the computer
senses any malfunction, it switches the anti-
lock brake system OFF and turns on the ªABSº
brake warning light in the dashboard. The
brake system will then behave normally, but
without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self check, or
while you are driving, you should take your
vehicle to your NISSAN dealer for repair atyour earliest convenience.
The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces, even with the anti-lock sys-
tem. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the responsibility for safety of self and
others rests in the hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition may also affect
braking effectiveness.
IWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all 4 wheels.
Refer to ªWheels and tiresº in the
ªDo-it-yourself operationsº section.
IWhen installing a spare tire, make
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
4-24
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

10 Index
A
Adjustable shock absorber control (If so
equipped) ........................................................ 1-31
Air bag (See ªSupplemental restraint systemº)
Air bag warning light (See ªSupplemental air bag
warning lightº or ªWarningº)
Air cleaner filter ............................................... 7-16
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ...................... 3-5, 3-9
Air conditioner specification label.............. 9-15
Heater and air conditioner........................... 3-3
Semiautomatic air conditioner ..................... 3-7
Air conditioning system refrigerant and lubricant
recommendations ............................................. 9-9
Air flow charts ................................................. 3-11
AM-FM radio with cassette player .................. 3-15
AM-FM radio with compact disc player .......... 3-20
Anti-lock brake system ................................... 4-24
Automatic
Automatic transmission fluid ....................... 7-9
Driving with automatic transmission............ 4-6
Semiautomatic air conditioner ..................... 3-7
Avoiding collision and rollover .......................... 4-4
B
Back door locks ................................................ 2-8
Battery............................................................. 7-13Battery replacement.......................................... 2-6
Before starting the engine ................................ 4-6
Belt hook ......................................................... 2-28
Brake
Anti-lock brake system .............................. 4-24
Brake and clutch fluid................................ 7-11
Brake booster ............................................ 7-20
Brake pedal ............................................... 7-19
Brake wear indicators ...................... 1-12, 7-19
Parking brake ................................... 4-12, 7-18
Break-in schedule ........................................... 4-15
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants... 9-2
CB radio or car phone .................................... 3-24
Center and side vent ........................................ 3-2
Changing
Changing engine coolant ............................ 7-5
Changing engine oil .................................... 7-8
Changing oil filter ........................................ 7-9
Checking coolant level ...................................... 7-4
Checking engine oil level .................................. 7-7
Child restraints for infants and small children .... 2-
30
Child safety ..................................................... 2-24
Child safety rear door lock................................ 2-3
Cigarette lighter and ash trays ....................... 1-21
Cleaning exterior and interior ........................... 6-2
Clearing the programming information ........... 1-33Clock ................................................................. 1-8
Clutch housing................................... 7-30
Clutch pedal .................................................... 7-20
Coin tray ......................................................... 1-22
Cold weather driving cautions ........................ 4-25
Compact disc player operation ....................... 3-22
Compass and outside temperature
display ............................................................... 1-5
Console box .................................................... 1-24
Coolant
Changing engine coolant ............................ 7-5
Checking coolant level ................................ 7-4
Engine coolant temperature gauge ............. 1-4
Corrosion protection ....................................... 4-27
Cruise control.................................................. 4-13
Cup holder ...................................................... 1-23
D
Defogger switch
Rear window defogger switch ................... 1-18
Dimensions and weights ................................. 9-12
Door locks ......................................................... 2-2
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................... 4-4
Drive belts ....................................................... 7-14
Driving
Cold weather driving cautions ................... 4-25
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .............. 4-4
Driving safety precautions ......................... 4-20
Driving with automatic transmission............ 4-6
Z01.2.1/R50-DX